The term "Al Kitab" could confuse people if they don’t look into the Quran closely. Especially when we have IIPC sect propagating bogus theory regarding this which contradict with so many verses. Yet them sect are reluctant to called Al-Quran as “the Reading” which is true in one sense by the meaning of it, but they forget it is also a name ,therefore we cannot always translate any name and start calling it’s meaning.

Them sect just not going to understand, they are happy to follow blindly their bogus messenger which they sometime called “The Medium”.

If we look into the Quran specifically the verse 10:37 it is very clear what exactly the AL-KITAB moreover this term has been used on so many different verse sometime with different meaning such as.

Q3:3 = Al-Quran

Q2:235=(Al-Kitabu) Marriage on prescribe term

Q2:178=Kutiba =Written/ Prescribe over mankind

Q2:285=Kutubi=Books (Plural)

Q2:185=Ramadan the month Quran revealed(why not Al-Kitab ?)

Q39:69 = Al-Kitab The Book hold record and judged accordingly

Q6:38=Nothing left over without mentioning on(Book of nature) .

Q6:92=Kitab (meaning Quran ) no mention of AL-KITAB

Q7:37=Appointed portion of AL-KITAB /the Book (of destiny)

Q18:49=Book/Record of human deed/action

Q13:39=Allah has the Mother of the BOOK

Q27:01=This is the AYAT of the Quran & clear BOOK

Q4:44=Just Portion of the Book given to some nation

Q4:82=No contradiction in THE QURAN (why not Al-Kitab?)

Q5:101= May cause you trouble. If ask when Qur'an is being revealed

Q10:01=This (Quran) contain verse of Al-Kitab

Q29:45=Recite what has been revealed to you FROM AL-KITAB

Q38:1=Quran also called or class as Aththiri/DHIKIRI

Q16;43=Revelation also called Aththiri/DHIKIRI

Q9:105=DHIKIR (Remembrance) indicate last Book is the Quran

Q9:111=The Thawrah, the injeel, and the Qur'an (sequence of revelation)

Q15:9 = Allah taken the responsibility to Preserved the DHIKIR=Quran

Q42;15=Need to believe whatsoever Allah sent of Kitab NO mention of AL-KITAB

Q84:21=When the Quran is READ (this prove the Quran itself a book )

Q17:45=QARAT/Read the Quran (it is nonsense to say READ THE READING )

Q16:98 =QARA/READ the Quran seek protection from Satan

Q7:204=QARA the Quran, listen to it with attention (again READ READ ?)

Q7:78= People of the Quran (again nonsense to call people of the reading ?)

Q59:21=If the Quran send on a mountain (how a READING send to mountain?)

Q4:136=The messengers also came with the book (not just 19 prophets)

Q4:164= Some messengers NOT even mention (so again not just 19 got Al-Kitab?)

MAIN VERES OF THE ARTICLE

If one understand this ONE verse [10:37] since it do give significant prove /understanding , alongside with other verse mention in the article ,then insha-Allah we will come to know what is the term AL-KIATB mainly stand for.[my understanding of the verse 10:37]

The Quran 10:37

وَمَا كَانَ هَـٰذَا ٱلۡقُر

And not is this Quran

ۡءَانُ أَن يُفۡتَرَى

that produce by

ٰ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ

other then Allah

وَلَـٰكِن تَصۡدِيقَ ٱلَّذِى بَيۡنَ يَدَيۡهِ

but confirm/truth what/that clear his hands

هِ وَتَفۡصِيلَ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ

and explaining the Book

ِ لَا رَيۡبَ فِيهِ مِن رَّبِّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ

no doubt in it from the Lord of the all creations /universe

No doubt this Quran from Allah the Lord of universe .Nobody can create it [not even any messenger]. But it’s confirming what revelation is available. And it is the explanation of “Al-Kitab [That revealed to every messenger / prophet which was passing on from generation to generation that which Written/ Preserved over mankind]

SOME OTHER VERSES NEED TO BE CONCEDER

The Quran 2:78

And there are among them illiterates, who know not the Book, but (see therein their own) desires, and they do nothing but conjecture

The Quran 2:101

And when came to them a Messenger from Allah, confirming what was with them, a party of the people of the Book threw away the Book of Allah behind their backs, as if (it had been something) they did not know!

The Quran 2:151

A similar (favour have ye already received) in that We have sent among you a Messenger of your own rehearsing to you Our signs, and purifying you, and instructing you in Scripture and wisdom, and in new Knowledge.

The Quran3:81

Behold! Allah took the covenant of the Prophets saying: "I give you a Book and Wisdom; then comes to you an Messenger, confirming what is with you; do ye believe him and render him help." Allah said: "Do ye agree, and take this My Covenant as binding on you?" They said: "We agree." He said: "Then bear witness and I am with you among the witnesses."

The Quran5:15

O People of the Book! there hath come to you Our Messenger, revealing to you much that ye used to hide in the Book, and passing over much (that is now unnecessary): there hath come to you from Allah a (new) Light and a perspicuous Book.―

The Quran 13:39

Allah doth blot out or confirm what He pleaseth: with Him is the Mother of the Book.

The Quran16:89

One day We shall raise from all peoples a witness against them, from amongst themselves: and We shall bring thee as a witness against these (thy people): and We have sent down to thee the Book explaining all things, a Guide a Mercy and Glad Tidings to Muslims

The Quran 27:92

And to rehearse the Qur'an: and if any accept guidance, they do it for the good of their own souls, and if any stray, say: "I am only a Warner."

The Quran 28:49

Say: "Then bring ye a Book from Allah, which is a better Guide than either of them, that I may follow it! (Do), if ye are truthful!"

The Quran 39:69

And the Earth will shine with the glory of its Lord: the Record (of Deeds) will be placed (open); the prophets and the witnesses will be brought forward: and a just decision pronounced between them; and they will not be wronged (in the least).

The Quran 46:12

And before this, was the Book of Moses as a Guide and a Mercy; and this Book confirms (it) in the Arabic tongue; to admonish the unjust, and as Glad Tidings to those who do right.

The Quran 56:78

And that is indeed a mighty adjuration if ye but knew― (76) That this is indeed a Qur'an most honourable, (77) In a Book well-guarded, (78) Which none shall touch but those who are clean:

MAIN POINTS FROM ABOVE VERSES

[Q2:2] say [ THALIK=THAT ] instead of [HAAJA=THIS] which indicate AL-KITAB separate from Al-Quran, Therefore the specific AL-KITAB is not this Quran itself, but this Quran contain the Al-Kitab within, and this is why it is the explanation of Al-Kitab. Another thing to conceder,Since this Quran is the explanation of AL-KITAB then that AL-KIATB must contain brief information of the main massage [or Core/Fundamental message] of DEEN shared by Messengers/Prophet.

[3:81] Indicate whatever (portion) from AL-KITAB has been given to Prophets so that mean some messenger/prophet may have some portion of Al-Kiatb but since the Quran is complete and The End of revelation [which is confirm by several verses such as 12:111] that's mean the whole Al-kitab that Allah revelled is within the Quran,Preserved and Allah also preserved All HIS previous revelation by sending the messenger/prophets.

[2:78] say people don’t know the knowledge of the book but guess [2:101] and some of them reject the message of the book as they did not know [2;151] The Messenger/Prophet ALSO given duty to teach the knowledge of the Book to mankind

[46:12] indicate Prophet Moosa (P) Book was as a guide & a mercy before Quran which again prove it is part of the Al-Kitab.

Since the Al-kiatb is within Al-Quran that’s why we see this Quran [16:89] is also Al-Kitab we also notice Allah used the term [AL] on Al-Kitab to emphasise the importance and indicate to AL-Kitab. But on some verse we just see the term [kitab] without [AL] used to refer the Quran [5:15] we also notice two books

[ 28:49] this again confirm the book that revelled to the present messenger /prophet and the book/knowledge which is already available from the earlier messenger/prophet.

[56:78] this Quran is in the BOOK which is well guard meaning it is with Allah NO one can touch it except the Purified one, with the permission of Allah,which indicate to angel Messenger or even messenger/prophet. But more we read/ rehearse [27:92] more we will remember of it [Quran].Then it will be mercy for us.

CONCLUSION

It is unnecessary to make laud noises, or use to much fuss about this term "AL-KITAB" since Quran indicate this term has multiple meaning [but it do has it original specific meaning too] and Allah has used it according to that multiple meaning.

Therefore we need to conceder the context the verses to establish which meaning is Allah referring to. And one of the most general/common meanings of term [AL-KITAB] is WRITTEN. Please note written does not mean Allah did send HIS revelation as book form [in paper] but it is written recorded over mankind. Anyway to understand this , please read SCHOLAR & KUTIBA article.

I simply believe this term [Al-Kitab] is indicating to the writing/record & specifically it is talking about the BOOK which is with ALLAH which contain/record of EVERY single THING nothing miss out or leftover from it. Since mankind/Jinn need the guidance of Allah therefore some portion of that GREAT record / written Allah send to mankind through Messenger / Prophet what they need and because of this all the revelation that Messenger/Prophet received is the part of AL-KITAB

And that is why we see the Allah called it Al-Kitab and since the Quran is the last in of revelation which give explanation /confirmation of all previous revelation therefore Allah also called [the Quran] Al-kitab too.[but main specific Al-Kitab is with Allah alone all time.[Allah knows best]

IN SHORT

1] AL-KITAB = THE GREAT BOOK THAT IS WITH ALLAH ALTIME [13:39]

2] AL-KITAB=ALL REVELATION THAT MANKIND RECEIVED [3:81]

3] AL-KITAB=AL-QURAN SINCE IT EXPLAIN ALL REVELATION[10:37

AHLUL-KITAB

[AHL/U/I/A)=Family/People/Household/Spouse/Worthy]

[KITAB=Written/book/Writing/Revelation]

Generally
people direct this term only toward two sect such as Jews &
Christen. But I take it whoever believe in revelation are fall in
the category. And if we ponder on all mention verses then we will
understand it more clearly and we need to understand the term Al-Kitab
also

The
term Al-Kitab normally understood as a written/ book or a scripture
which sent by Allah. But there are many other books which people claim
it’s also from God. But when analyses any of them man-made book then can
be easily identify which contain the real revelation of Allah.

BRIEF POINTS ABOUT AL-QURAN

[10:37]

It’s contain the confirmation & explanation [of the writing which written over mankind]

[6:19]

This Qur'an was sent by inspiration to prophet Muhammed [P]

[56:77-80]

And it is honourable, well guarded, none can touch IT except the purified one ,[such as angel]

[85:21-22]

It is preserved in tablet.

[15:9]

It is a Reminder, and Allah is its Guardian

[41:44]

It is on Arabic for best and clear explanation

[2:185]

It has been revealed on month of Ramadan [could be indicating the time when it first start revealed]

[55:4]

Allah himself only teach us his revelation

[16:98-100]

Need to seek protection [every time when we read] from Satan so that he does not confused us from it true understanding.

OTHER RELATED POINTS

If
their manmade books [old/new testament] are the reason for them to be
called “Ahlul-Kitab” then since it is two different books then why Allah
did not used plural term such as “AHLUL- KUTUB” instead of AL-KITAB?

If
their manmade book is the book of Allah then why Allah did not
preserved it, & why to many contradictory statement and version,
anyway please ponder on them related verses also.

[6:83-89]

Indicate quite clearly whom the book/ written was given & which nation can be class as family of the book

[5:48]

All prophets/messengers did judge by it

[21:10]

Indicate
this book is also mention about ourselves [personality] but the
sectarian man-made books has so many lack of information even on some
necessary issues

[2:21]

We
see also Allah communicating directly to mankind such as “O Mankind, O
believer, O soul, , O children of Israel/ADAM , & O family of the
Book.

[3:110:113:114]

All
Prophet/Messenger are the best nation themselves and selected from the
mankind, if the family of the book do same they would be successful too,
But among them some are believers whom humbly pray to Allah at night
& most are evil doers.

Do them Jew or Christen humbly pray to Allah at night ?

Can we still class some of them “mumeen” while they go open idolatry in their belief /book ?

ATTITUDE DESCRIBE BY TERM AHLUL KITAB

[Note :- Allah has also used term Utul Kitab]

2:105
Indicate among them are rejecter / kafir whom don’t like anything good
sent to prophets & the idolaters has the same desire too.

2:109 Indicate many of them are kafir / rejecter and they want believer to return back to disbeliever.

3:69 Indicate a group from them wished that they could misguide, but they only misguide themselves which they don’t even notice.

3:70 indicate they deny the Ayat / sigh of Allah

3:71 Indicate they dress the truth with falsehood and conceal the truth while you know

3:72
indicate some of them play trick with believer by [pretending] they
believe the Allah’s word during the beginning of the day, and reject it
by the end of it in hope that the true believer will follow them.

3:75
Indicate some of them are trustable and some of them are so worse if
entrusted with one gold coin they will not retune it.

3:110 Indicate, some of them are believers; but most of them are transgressor.

3:113
indicate All not same There are some who are upright, who recite
Allah’s revelations during the night, who bow down in worship.

3:199
Indicate some are indeed believe in all revelation and don’t sell it
for cheap price and they are the believers will get their reward from
Allah.

4:123
Indicate Allah’s law are equal anyone who does wrong will be requited
for it and will find no one to protect or help him against God
regardless if believer or people of the book hopes.

4:153
Indicate they always argue or criticize by saying Allah to send book
directly from sky & they even disturbed prophet Mosa [P] more
greatly.

4:159 indicate very few will believe in Muhammed [p] and the Quran.

4:171 indicate they overstep & lie about Allah specialy in the issue of "Trinity." Cease, or issue of Allah begotten son.

5:15 indicate they hide more about Deen

5:19 indicate they will not be able to say No bearer of good news or Warner has come to them .

5:65
indicate [those who disbeliever among them ] if they did believed and
been aware, Allah would have cancelled their sins and admitted them to
gardens of Paradise.

33:26 indicate some of them also help the enemy of Allah

57:29 Indicate they use to claim falsely that they have some power over God's

59:2 Indicate those whom was disbeliever among them, got destroyed by Allah by their own hand which they fail to comprehend.

59:11 Indicate some of them who were disbeliever they have hypocrites as their companions.

98:2
indicate some of them whom is disbeliever are in same situation as
those who set up partners would not leave until proof came to them.

98:6
indicate those who a rejecter among and those who set up partners are
in the fires of Hell abiding therein, those are the worst of creation.

ATTITUDE DESCRIBE BY TERM UTUL KITAB

2:101 indicate they have habit of rejecting Messengers & deny book of Allah while knowing

2:144 indicate they even knows very well about the true Qibla [Ka'bah at Makkah]

2:145
indicate they will not follow the Qibla even all verses put front of
them and not only that they don’t follow each other Qibla [It’s very
true every sect hate each other ]

3:19 Indicate Allah’s Deen is Islam, but they will only differ except, out of mutual jealousy, even after they knew truth.

3:24Indicate some of them settle all dispute by the book of Allah when they invited but most of them don’t.

3:100 it instruct believer not obey them otherwise they will make disbeliever.

3:186.indicate everyone will be test with wealth/other thing but megourity of them [utul kitab] will grieve.

3:187 indicate Allah taken a covenant from them but they broken it because wealth & greediness.

4:44 Indicate they are in wrong path but wish believer to follow them too.

4:51 indicate they believe in idols and false deities, and claim they are more rightly guided than believer

5:57
indicate believer not to take them as a protector when they take Deen
as a mockery and fun, nor from among the disbelievers.

9:29 indicate to fight until they pay the damage/fine

57:16 Indicate believer should not be them since their hearts became hardened, and many of them were wicked.

74:31
indicate the believer and them [utul kitab ] will not have problem of
understanding about angel but the disbeliever since they don’t believe
anything such as Allah/Angel/Book/Prophet they will say what is the
reason for example

98:4 indicate they only became divided only after they were sent clear evidence.

HOW BELIEVER SHOULD REACT TOWARD THEM

[Note: translation can never/ always be accurate]

The Quran 29:46

And
do not argue with the people of the Scripture except in the best
manner; except for those who are wicked amongst them; and Say: "We
believe in what was revealed to us and in what was revealed to you, and
our god and your god is the same; to Him we surrender.

ALLAH ORDER PROPHET TO TELL THEM

The Quran 3:64

(Muhammad),
say to the People of the Book, "We must come to a common term. Let us
worship no one except God, nor consider anything equal to Him, nor
regard any of us as our Lord besides God." However, if they turn away
from (the Truth), tell them, "Bear witness that we have submitted
ourselves to the will of God."

The Quran 5:59

Say
[Prophet], ‘People of the Book, do you resent us for any reason other
than the fact that we believe in God, in what has been sent down to us,
and in what was sent before us, while most of you are disobedient?’

The Quran 5:68

Say,
‘People of the Book, you have no true basis [for your religion] unless
you uphold the Thawra, the Injeel, and that which has been sent down to
you from your Lord,’ but what has been sent down to you [Prophet] from
your Lord is sure to increase many of them in their insolence and
defiance: do not worry about those who defy [God].

The Quran 5:77

Say,
‘People of the Book, do not overstep the bounds of truth in your
religion and do not follow the whims of those who went astray before
you- they led many others astray and themselves continue to stray from
the even path.

The Quran 3:65

O
people of the Scripture, why do you debate us regarding Abraham when
the Torah and the Injeel were not sent down except after him Do you not
understand"

OTHER VERSES TO UNDERSTAND THE TOPIC

The Quran 2:136

Say
ye: "We believe in Allah, and the Revelation given to us, and to
Abraham, Isma'il, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and that given to Moses
and Jesus, and that given to (all) prophets from their Lord: We make no
difference between one and another of them: And we bow to Allah (in
Islam)."

The Quran 6:91

No
just estimate of Allah do they make when they say: "Nothing doth Allah
send down to man (by way of Revelation)" Say: "Who then sent down the
Book which Moses brought?- a light and guidance to man: But ye make it
into (separate) sheets for show, while ye conceal much (of its
contents): therein were ye taught that which ye knew not- neither ye nor
your fathers." Say: "(Allah) (sent it down)": Then leave them to plunge
in vain discourse and trifling.

The Quran 28:52

Those to whom We sent the Book before this,- they do believe in this (Revelation)

The Quran 6:116

And
if you obey most of those on the earth, they will mislead you far away
from Allah's Path. They follow nothing but conjectures, and they do
nothing but lie.

CONCLUSION

Some
among the mankind will say Allah did not send anything to man
whatsoever, and it is just a story made up by the ancestors and they
even deny existence of Allah. Also we find some people created
religions out of their own theory such as [hindu /budu] in order to lead
and receive benefit from the ordinary people.

However
I don’t like to attribute this title family of the book toward only two
sects Jwes/Christen In-fact to me every single person in every
generation whosoever believe Allah, Messengers, Angel, Hereafter,
Revelation are the people of the book and among them will be some
believer but majority Fasik. Also it is very important to understand
them verse which given some attitude/description of them, which can be
found on any person since it is a action, therefore it is not necessary
they have to be Only Ahlul /Utul-Kitab.

The
term Utul-kitab & Ahlul-Kaib dose describe, same personality &
does indicate to same people more or less, but there is very slight
difference as I understood for example: everyone today who accept the
Quran regardless of what origin of nationality they are, they will be
class as people of the Quran [if there is such title ] but they are not
given the Quran. Therefore since the Quran has been given in Arabic to
Arabian people they can be call both Utul & Ahlul Quran.

Moreover
the term [16:43 Ahul-Zikr] & [17:107 Utul iLma ] also indicate to
the same personality. Also it is very important to understand that the
Quran is full of wisdom, reason and Allah used the Arabic language so it
can be explain in detail , therefore when Allah used this two term Utul
& Ahlul,so must be a reason to it.

Also
Allah did mention both sect name Al-Yahood & Nasara if only them
to sect is the target for the term “Ahul/Utu Kitab “ then will it not be
more clear if Allah used them term on verse 5:05 where Allah given
permission to eat and marry women from the Utul Kitab?

Regarding
eating or marrying women from the people whom GIVEN THE BOOK, We must
observe other general condition such as on “eating” it must NOT be
anything which is not good / healthy / Haraam, & must not be killed
on other gods name then Allah. And regarding the issue of marrying
their women they must not be idol-worshiper.

However
people sometime try to argue by saying ’ what’s wrong if Muslim women
get married to man from Utul-kitab” such argument is week, since Allah
clearly mention only Women from them, and that is because if Allah allow
as such, then it will create more contradiction since the verse 5:57
where Allah say not to take them as Protector and generally husband is
protector of their wife.

Lastly
I like to give more clarification of my understanding regarding the
Ahlul-Kitab, Since there is NO more messenger to come and the message is
completed for mankind. Therefore the message [Al-Quran] itself is the
live messenger.

And
we find several sects [Sunni/ Shia/ Quranist/ Qadiani/ Nation of
Islam /Submitters /19nrs and so on] follow and believe in Allah’s
revelation [al-Quran] yet believe some & reject some of the Ayat of
Allah & happily follow their own manmade books. Therefore to me all
of them are the FAMILY OF THE BOOK and not just only two sect Jews/
Christen [Allah knows best]